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1 G. B. PETTER TRANS FER'MECHANISM FUR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet N YEN K- 1,615,033 Jan. 18, G B PETTER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed May 21: 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gu 5&58165 e++er I ENT K,

Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY BAZELEY PETTER, OF IPSWICH, ENGLAND.

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

Application filed May 21,, 1925, Serial No. 31,817, and in Great Britain June 12, 1924.

This invention relates to calculating machines, cash registers, revolution counters and other appliances involving the registration of numerical quantities upon counting apparatus, and has for its object the provision of a new, simple and eflicient trans fer mechanism.

I will describe the invention as applied to calculating apparatus, viz, to adding machines of the multiple bank type with a series of ordinal keys in each bank.

Referring to the drawings filed herewith Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically as an example an application of my invention in conjunction with key actuating mechanism of the type described in my Patent No. 1,538,447.

According to the arrangement therein described a toothed segment carried on an ac tuating lever pivoted on a spindle fixed in the framework of the machine has a certain initial range of free movement before it engages the registering wheel on the actuating movement of the key levers and comes completely out of engagement before the end of the return movement. I accordingly arrange for the transfer movement hereinafter described to take place during the latter part of the return movement and for disengagement of the transfer pawls to take place during the initial part of the actuating movement, whereby it is possible to actuate a plurality of key levers simultaneously even when a tens transfer is thereby introduced, since the engagement and disengagement of the tens transfer can only take place after the release of all the depressed key levers and when their segments are out of engagement with the accessory toothed wheels.

Fig. 2 shows the transfer lever at the moment when the transfer has been completed.

Fig. 3 shows the transfer lever in an intermediate position with the transfer pawl just about to engage the gear wheel of the numeral wheel.

1 is a gear wheel having ten or any suitable number of teeth. This gear wheel is mounted freely on the numeral wheel shaft 1*, fixed in the framework of the machine, and is adapted by means of spring pawls (not shown) to rotate in one direction only and to be correctly located in any one of its ten positions of rest. The numeral or registering wheel (not shown) is attached to this gear wheel and 2 is a trip tooth also carried on the wheel. 8 is a transverse rail (shown in section) which runs across the machine. This rail is pivoted on the spindle 4: by means of two arms 5 one at either end of the machine. The rail 3 is held in contact with the rollers 6 on the levers 27 by means of any suitable springs such as 7. According to the arrangement as described, the rail 3 is depressed by the depression of any one or more of the key levers.

Pivoted on the shaft t fixed in the framework of the machine is a set of transfer levers 8 one in each bank, supported by springs in any suitable manner, such, for instance, as springs 7 The levers 8, when performing a transfer movement by means of these springs move into position so that their ends 9 make contact with the rail 3 and the next depression of the rail causes the levers 8 to be retracted or returned to the cocked position in readiness for subsequent transfers.

Mounted on, a pin 10 fixed on the lever 8 is a pawl 11.. This pawl has a restricted movement relative to the lever 8 by means of the stops 12 making contact with the lever 8. The spring 7 or any suitable spring serves to hold the pawl 11 with the stop 12 in contact with the lever 8 in which position the pawl is adapted to engage the gear wheel l.

Commencing with the parts in position as shown in Fig. 2 the depression of the actuating key lever 27 will cause the rail 3 and lever 8 to be depressed. During the first part of the movement, that is before the actuating segi'nent 28, described in the above mentioned specification comes into engagement with the gear wheel 1, the pawl 11 will move out of engagement with the gear wheel, that is, from the position shown in the figure into position ready for engaging the underside of a tooth of the gear wheel 1, in position 22, as shown in Fig. 1, and on the next return of the lever 8 the pawl will reengage the gear wheel and move it forward through one division. At the end of this transfer movement it is necessary to stop the numeral wheel to prevent overthrow and the surface 11 of the pawl supplies the required stop by lying across the line of motion of a tooth of the wheel and having its normal directed towards the centre of the pivot 10 and below the centre of the pivot 1. During transfer the pawl 11 and the lever 8 move as one piece with the stop 12 in contact with the lever 8. Relative movement between the pawl 11 and the lever 8 takes place on the return or withdrawal movement of the pawl during a subsequent actuation of a key lever.

Bearing in mind the fact that the gear wheel 1 is restrained from movement in the reverse direction by means of a ratchet not shown, it will be seen that on the return movement the pressure setup between the tooth of the gear wheel 1 and the surface of the pawl 11 causes the pawl to turn on its pivot 10, the stop 12 on the pawl leaves contact with the lever 8 and the pawl 11 moves out of engagement with the gear wheel into position ready for engagement with the underside of a tooth of the gear wheel 1 in position The movement of the pawl 11 is a combination of two movements, the one about the fulcrum +1 and the other about the fulcrum 10. The latter component of the movementof the pawl 11 is partly radial towards or away from the fulcrum l.

A trip lever 15 and detent. 15 are mounted on the spindle 16 fixed in the framework of the machine. Lever 15 is held down by an extension spring 19, the other end of this spring being connected to the detent- 15. The spring 19 connects the deteut 15 to the latch 1'? pivoted at 17 on the extension 20 of the lever 8. The trip lever is adapted at one end 23 to coact with a trip tooth of a lower order or column of the machine while the other end 15 coacts with the transfer mechanism of the next higher order.

On depression of one or more key levers the rail 8 is depressed and carries with it the several levers 8. The extension 20 on the lever passes belowthe step 21 on the detent 15, the two parts being held in contact by means of the spring 19. At the same time each corresponding pawl 11 comes out of contact with the tooth 22 of the gear wheel and springs into position for engaging beneath this tooth on the return stroke of the lever. The actual engagement, however, is restrained from operating until required for the purpose of transfer, because, when the rail 3 makes its return movement, the lever 8 is left behind on account of the extension 20 of the said lever being held by the step 21 of the detent 15 as shown in Fig. 1. hen, however, the trip tooth 2 of the gear wheel passes through the division adapted for transferring, it makes contact with the shoulder of the trip lever, causing the trip lever to leave contact with the detent. At the end of the movement from 9 to 0 position the trip lever is released by the trip tooth and flies back under action of the spring 19. In so doing, it strikes the detent 15 by means of the projection 15 causing the deteut 15 to overcome the tension of the spring 19 and rise above the level of the notch 25 of the latch 17. The notch then moves below the netent under action of the spring 19 into position as shown in Fig. thereby holding the detent in the raised position out of contact with the extension 20 of the lever 8, whereby the lever is enabled to rise on the return movement of the actuating key lever. The projection 25 on the latch 17 serves to limit the upward movement of the detent 15. but other means may be used for this purpose.

hen the transfer lever is nearing the end of its upward movement as shown in Fig the extension 20 makes contact with the latch 17 causing the latch to move back and release the point of the detent 15 from engagement with the notch of the latch. The trip lever is then free to move back to its original position under control of the spring 19.

In the case of a transfer occurring in the manner above described at the first of successive readings of 9 the gear wheel moved by the transfer pawl will pass from 9 to 0 position thereby releasing the transfer mechanism of the next higher order and the requisite number of transfers will follow .in quick succession.

The surface 3 of the rail which is engaged by the roller (3 of the lever 27 is so formed that the movement of the rail takes place during the initial part of the movement of the lever 27 after which further movement of the lever has little or no effect upon the rail. That is to say that the movement of the rail 3 is substantially the same on depression of the one key as on that of any other value key. By this means the transfer lever spring '7 becomes fully wound or extended by depression of the one kcv or any other.

.Vhat I claim and desire to secure bv Letters Patent is: I

1. In a machine of the class described, a framework, key-actuated levers, registering wheels and transfer members all of which are pivoted upon spindles fixed in said framework, the said key-actuated levers being, on depression, disengaged from the gear wheels during the initial part of their movement and, on return, being correspondingly disengaged from said gear wheels during the final part of their movement, the said transfer members disengaging from the gear wheels during the aforesaid initial part of the movement of the said actuating levers and engaging the said wheels during the aforesaid final part of the movement of the said levers.

2. In a transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a transfer pawl mounted on each transfer lever and moving as one piece with lib.)

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the said transfer lever during transfer, but yielding for the purpose of disengaging the gear wheel on the return movement of the transfer lever.

3. In a transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a transfer pawl pivoted on each transfer lever, a pivot for each transfer lever and a pivot for each transfer pawl, distinct from the pivot of the transfer lever, on a different basis from the latter, said transfer pawl having a surface which supplies the required stop at the end of the transfer movement by lying across the line of motion of a tooth of the wheel and having its normal directed towards the centre of the pivot of the transfer pawl and below the centre of the pivot of the transfer lever.

4. In a transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a plurality of trip levers and detents pivotally mounted on a common spindle fixed in the framework, each detent being held in contact with the corresponding trip lever by means of a spring connecting them except at such time as the trip lever is moved and the spring extended by a trip tooth carried on the gear wheel.

5. Transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a spring-controlled trip lever is adapted to be engaged by a trip tooth on the gear wheel and at the end of such engagement to fly back and by virtue of its momentum to trip a. detent holding the transfer lever.

6. In a transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a plurality of trip levers and detents pivotally mounted on a. common spindle fixed in the framework, each detent being normally held in contact with the corresponding trip lever by means of a spring connecting them, said detent being normally held in contact with the corresponding transfer lever by means of an independent spring.

7. In a transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a transverse rail shaped so as to be moved by the depression of any one of the actuating levers while the latter is communicating a unit movement to the gear wheel, but to remain substantially stationary during further depression of the actuating lever.

8. A transfer mechanism as claimed in claim 1, having in each order or column of the machine a trip lever and detent pivotally mounted on a common spindle fixed in the framework and connected together by means of a spring, a transfer lever adapted to be retained in cocked position ready for action by a step in the detent, a trip tooth on the gear wheel of the next lower order of the machine adapted first to engage and retract the trip lever and then to release it and allow it to fly back and impinge upon the detent thereby causing the said detent to release the transfer lever.

9. A transfer mechanism a claimed in claim 1, having in each order or column of the machine a trip lever and detent pivotally mounted on a common spindle fixed in the framework and connected together by means of a spring, a transfer lever adapted to be retained in cocked position ready for action by a step in the detent, a trip tooth on the gear wheel of the next lower order of the machine adapted first to engage and re tract the lever and then to release it and allow it to fly back and impinge upon the detent thereby causing the said detent to rise and release the transfer lever, said transfer lever carrying a latch adapted to engage the detent and maintain said detent raised so as to leave the transfer lever free to perform a transfer when a transverse rail is raised.

10. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, a pawl mounted on each transfer member and a trip tooth on each gear wheel, the transfer members being severally mounted on spindles carried in fixed positions in the framework of th machine, a transverse rail adapted, on depression of any actuating lever to disengage any transfer members which may be engaged by means of their pawls with the gear wheels and return the same to cocked position. segments carried by the actuating levers adapted on depression of the actuating levers and after the aforesaid disengagement of the transfer members to engage the gear wheels for the purpose of the additive movement of the same, trip levers pivoted upon spindles fixed in the framework adapted to be engaged by the trip teeth on the gear wheels, detents adapted to hold the transfer levers in cocked position until tripped by the trip levers, latches adapted to retain the detents in the tripped position until the actuating levers on their return movement have carried the segments out of engagement with the gear wheels, and permitted the transverse rail to return and to allow such transfer members as are released from their detents to make the transfer movement by means of the pawls carried on the transfer members and engaging the gear wheels, the said pawls having an arresting surface for limiting the transfer movement and abutments having a yielding movement relative to the transfer levers for the purpose of disengagement on the next return of the transfer members to cocked position, the said latches being adapted to come automatically out of engagement with the detents before the end of the transfer movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GUY BAZELEY PETTER. 

